Lavatory seat



y 21, 1953 I R. BLACKBURN I 2,645,784

' LAVATORY SEAT Filed Dec. 16, 1949 Patented July 21, 1953 Y I i""ET VAT RY'SEAT" ,3 j Ri ardo- Blakbufn H 'fg, ictoria, Australia I x 7 Application December 16, 1949, Serial No. 133,242 In AustraliaNovember 1'5; 1949 l 1 I ,i a K This invention relates to lavatory, seats of the kind which are normally adapted for use by adults but are capable of adjustment so thattheyaforesaid objections and enable the child user to assume a desirable relaxed posture. g

The improved seat is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction," easily cleaned when required and capable of being readily fittedto existing toilets.

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof alavatory seat in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention..;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the improved seat.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the hingeable connections seen in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of the parts seen. in Figure 3 but with an adjustable portion of the seat occupying its raised position.

In accordance with the present invention, the improved seat may be of substantially annular formation and incorporates front and rear portions. The front portion consists of upper and lower sections 2 and 3 respectively, the lower section being fixed to or formed integral with the rear portion 4 whilst the upper section is hingeably connected to the rear portion of the lower section so as to be capable of being swung upwardly and backwardly in relation to its associated lower section.

The parts forming the complete seat may as usual be adapted to be hinged as at 6 to a wall I or anyother suitable support so as to rest upon the top of a lavatory bowl 8. In order to minimize the risk of breakage the seat is preferably provided on the lower surface with a. plurality scams, (cm- 2 5.) I

ing relationship the of shock absorbers 9 which may consist of rubber or any other suitable resilient material.

The combined thickness of the associated upper and lower sections is predetermined so that when the sections are arranged in overlysection is substantially flush with the upper surface. of the rear portion 4, and thus forms a seat for an adult.

-Wherethe rear portion of the seat merges with the lower section 3, transverse stepped shoulders II are formed at opposite sides of the central'aperture l2 in the seat. As seen in Figures 3 and 4- part of the cross sectional 'forma-' tionof theseshoulders is complementary to the cross sectional formation of the rear ends of the uppersection. so as to form a desirable close fit therewith whenthe upper section occupies its lowered position. Any ,suitable means. may be employed for hingeably connecting the upper section 2 to the rear portion ,4 of the seat. For example, this hingeable connection may consist of interfitting apertured' lugs 13 on the uppersection and rear portion of the seat and a pair of co-aligned pivot pins 14 adapted to interengage said lugs. These pins arepreferably readily removable-so that the upper section-of the seat may be detached periodically for cleaning purposes. Means are providedfor limiting the backward s ng -ing movement of the upper section. For example. transverse limit stops l6 may be provided on the lower section in the path of the apertured lugs on the upper section so that the last mentioned lugs will engage the limit stops and hold the upper section in the desired raised position when so desired. The aforesaid stepped shoulders also preferably act as limit stops so as to provide a firm support for the upper section when occupying its raised position for a child user.

The upper section 2 of the seat is also prefe ably provided with a pair of arm rests I! so as to provide a feeling of added security for a child. These arm rests may be fixed or detachably connected in any suitable manner to the bottom of the upper section and spaced apart so as to clear the lower section 3 when the upper section is swung down into engagement therewith. In order to minimise noise and avoid damage the upper section is preferably provided with a rubber or anyother suitable shock absorbing pad It as seen in Figures 1 and 2.

As usual, a seat cover 2| of any suitable form is preferably hinged to the rear portion 4 as at 22 so as to conceal the central aperture l2 when the seat is not in use.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the improved construction provides in eii'ect, two superimposed seats the upper seat being adapted upper surface of the upper.

for use by adults whilst the lower seat is specially designed to meet the requirements of children. To specifically adapt the lower seat for children, the width and cross-sectional area of the lower section 3 is less than that of the upper section 2, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 2, so as to more readily fit the legs of a child. When required the seat may be readily converted for use by children simply by'swinging the upper section 2 into its upright operative position as in Figures 1 and 2 which has the effect of uncovering the lower section 3 forming the childfsseat and providing a convenient back-rest for the user.

The improved seat may be composed of synthetic resin, wood or any other suitablematerial.

Various alterations, modifications and/ortadditions may be introduced into the foregoing construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the ambit of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Havingnow described my invention, what I claim as new -and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A combined adult and child's toilet seat comprising -a rear portion and a front-portion, the front portion including a'lower sectionforming a childs 'seatand which is rigidlyfixed with the rear portion and an upper section 'pivotally mountedatthe rear upon said rear portionsoas to overliethe'lower section in complementary relationship with the rear portion to'iorm a'to'ile't seat'for an adult, and limit stops on the lower section engageable by said upper section when said upper section is pivoted-upwardly for limit ing upward and backward swinging movement or said upper section to form abackrest for a child seated on the lower section, the width and cross sectional area of said lower'section being'less than that ofsaidupper section'so as more readily to'flt-the legs of a child. 2. A device accordingto claim 1 wherein said lower section and said rear portion are integral, and have transverse stepped'shoulders at opposite sides of the seat where said rear portion merges with said lower section, said shoulders being complementary to the rear ends ofsaid upper pivoted section.

3. A combined adult and child's toilet seat comprising a rear portion and a front portion, said front portion including upper and lower sections of such predetermined thickness that when arranged in overlying relationship the upper surface of said upper section is substantially flush with the upper surface of said rear portion so as to form atoilet seat for an adult, said rear portionbelng integral with said lower section with transverse stepped shoulders therebetween, said shoulders being complementary to the rear ends ;of'.-saidtupper section, a hingeable connection between said upper section and said rear portion,

including interfltting apertured lugs on both said upper section and said'rear portion and a pair ofco-aligned removable pivot pins interengaging "$31G lugs," the width and cross sectional area of said lower section being less than that of the upper section, and limit stops on said lower section in the path of the lugs on said upper section i'or'limiting the pivoting of the upper sectiomto form a 'baickrest for a child seatedon the lower section.

RICARDO BLACKBURN.

i ltehirences Gited vin 'the .file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name 1 Date 333,321 .Mink Dec. 29,1885 426,287 Larkin Apr. 22,1890 557,780 ,Dutro Apr. 7, 1896 1,074,701 ..Eastburn. Oct. 7,1913 1,628,830 Eastburn May 17, 1927 1,739,001. -Justus :Dec. 10, 1929 1,817,520 .Meath Aug. 4, 1931 2,104,653 'Johnson Jan. 4, 1938 2,449,498 .Mellinchampe Sept. 14, 1948 2,461,160 Joyce .Feb. 8,.1949 2,494,813 Hughes Jan. 17, 1950 FOHEIGN'PATEN'IS Number I Country Date 23,969 Great Britain of 1910 457,986 Germany Mar. 28, 1928 337,367 Great.Britain Oct. 27, 1930 

